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"How much is that?" asked Lady Maitland. "Twunty pund, my leddy, twunty pund," answered Geordie. The money was handed to him by the lady, without saying a word; and, having again made a low bow, he departed. Next year, Geordie Willison went and paid a visit to Lady Maitland, got from her the same sum of money, and nothing passed to indicate what it was paid for.
The brief was published, and no doubt anywhere prevailed of the verdict which would be pronounced under it. About this time it was observed that Geordie Willison had long interviews with Advocate Carstairs; but neither his mother, nor his sister, nor, indeed, any person, could get him to say a word on the subject.
"Ye didna ask that question at my faither when I cam hame," replied the stoic, with one of his peculiar looks; "but, if ye had, maybe ye wadna hae got sae kind an answer as I'll gie ye: Geordie Willison will pay for bringing up the bairn; and I'll no answer ony mair o' yer questions." Strictly did Geordie keep his word with his mother.
Lady Maitland, who was sitting at her work-table, stared at the person thus saluting her, and seeing it was Geordie Willison, who had offended her at the time of his carrying down Sir Marmaduke's luggage, by asking, jocularly, if "ony o' the bairns were gaun wi' their father," she asked him sternly what he wanted, and, thinking he had the letter in his hand to deliver to her, snatched it in a petted manner and opened it.
Can Louise Grecourt not satisfy a fellow like you?" "No exactly at present," answered Geordie; "tell her leddyship that Geordie Willison wants to speak to her." Louise started when he mentioned his name, certifying Geordie that she was in the secret of his knowledge. Her manner changed.
Like his employments, his earnings were chancy and various, ranging between a shilling to five shillings a-week, including gratuities, which his conceit prompted him to call "helps," with a view to avoid the imputation of living upon alms a name, in the Scotch language "awmous," which did not sound agreeably in the ears of Geordie Willison.
"Whar hae ye been, man, and what is this ye hae in your airms?" said Widow Willison to Geordie, when he went in. "It's a wee bit birdie I fand in a nest amang the hedges o' Warriston," said Geordie. "Its mither didna seem to care aboot it, and I hae brought it hame wi' me. Gie't a pickle crowdie, puir thing."
Some time afterwards, Brodie was tried, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Geordie had now occasion to call upon Lady Maitland for his yearly allowance. Louise having been liberated without trial, it had not yet reached the ears of her or Lady Maitland that Peter Finlayson was, in fact, Geordie Willison.
Now it happened that on the 19th day of February, after the conversation here detailed, that George Willison was wandering over the grounds of Warriston, on the north side of Edinburgh.
"Twa or three placks," said Geordie, throwing down some coppers on the table. "This is the 21st day o' April your birthday, Geordie," said the mother; "an' as it has aye been our practice to hae something by common on that occasion, I'll gang down to Widow Johnston's an' get a pint o' the best, to drink yer health wi'." And Widow Willison did as she said.
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